rules read. 3. Members proposed. 4. Reports from committee. 5. Names of
members called over. 6. Members balloted for. 7. Members made. 8. Lodge
to close with prayer, members standing.

"It was about eight o'clock, when, accompanied by a young fellow named
Graham, we reached the Lodge, which, in violation of one of its own
rules, was held in what was formerly called the Topertoe Tavern, but
which has since been changed to the Castle Cumber Arms--being a field
_per pale_, on which is quartered a purse, and what seems to be an
inverted utensil of lead, hammered into a coronet. In the other is a
large mouth, grinning, opposite to which is a stuffed pocket, from which
hangs the motto, '_ne quid detrimenti res privata capiat_.' Under the
foot of the gentleman is the neck of a famine-struck woman, surrounded
by naked and starving children, and it is by the convenient aid of her
neck that he is enabled to reach the purse, _or_; and, indeed, such is
his eagerness to catch it and the coronet, that he does not seem to
care much whether he strangles her or not. On the leaden coronet, is the
motto, alluding to the head which fills it, '_similis simili gaudet_.'

"I should mention, before proceeding further, that Mr. Valentine
M'Clutchy, being master of the Lodge in question, was the individual
from whom I had received permission to be present under the
circumstances already specified. The ceremony of making a member is
involved in that ridiculous mystery which is calculated to meet the
vulgar prejudices of low and ignorant men. Sometimes they are made one
by one, and occasionally, or, I believe, more frequently in batches
of three or more, in order to save time and heighten the effect. The
novice, then, before entering the Lodge, is taken into another room,
where he is blindfolded, and desired to denude himself of his shoes
and stockings, his right arm is then taken out of his coat and shirt
sleeves, in order to leave his right shoulder bare. He then enters the
Lodge, where he is received in silence with the exception of the master,
who puts certain queries to him, which must be appropriately answered.
After this he receives on the naked shoulder three smart slaps of
the open hand, as a proof of his willingness to bear every kind
of persecution for the sake of truth--of his steadfastness to the
principles of Orangeism, and of his actual determination to bear
violence, and, if necessary, death itself, rather than abandon it or
bet